Milsom Street (2)

                       
                                                                                  
In 1755 the Bath Corporation granted a lease of land north of George Street, called the Town Acre, to Daniel Milsom, a wine cooper, at a yearly rental of £100.  Daniel already held Milsom's Garden, a large tract of land extending southwards from George Street, and his intention was to develop the two properties for building purposes.  The Corporation's Minutes for September 20th 1760 record their decision ... 'to let Mr Milsom take all rents and profits of his Garden and Town Acre for 35 years, and at expiration to deliver up all right and title in both estates and the rents thereof forever.  They to join with him in the building leases for 99 years agreeable to a plan to be settled by both parties, Mr Milsom to be at all expense of making Common Sewer and to prepare the ground for building."   At the Corporation's meeting on February 20th 1761 the plans were approved for the proposed buildings.
 
Taken from an extract of a copy of an old issue of Pope's Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, dated 14 January 1762, the following advertisement can be found:
 
"To be LETT
On a Building Lease for 99 Years
(ABSOLUTE)
Granted by the Corporation of Bath and
Mr Charles MILSOM, of the same City.
(In order to build a Street 53 ft wide
from House to House)
A PIECE OF GROUND,
Lately known by
The Name of MILSOM'S GARDEN
Situate in the Parish of St. Michael in the
City of Bath.
 Therefore, the terms are Four Shillings for every
Foot in Front with good out-lets.
Further particulars may be known, and the
Plan seen by enquiring of Mr HORTON
Chamberlain, Mr Alderman THOMAS ATWOOD,
Mr WALTER WILTSHIRE or Mr C H A MILSOM"
  
Mr Milsom's house and garden were without the northern wall of the city, the house standing about the corner of the present Green Street (so called from being built upon an old bowling green) and was a place of some note, as we find "near to Mr Milsoms house" a sufficiently definite identification of a piece of land granted upon a 99 year lease to the Governors of the Bath Hospital in 1743.  Very shortly after the above advertisement appeared, the handsome street bearing his name was built upon the site of Mr Charles Milsoms garden, the houses being all private residences, with the exception of Stuckey's Bank.  Gradually however, shops were allowed until the street assumed its present character and reputed as one of the handsomest business thoroughfares in Europe.